The Board of Deputies paid tribute to the “unsung heroes” of Jewish burial societies for their efforts during the pandemic at an event in Parliament marking the third anniversary of the first lockdown measures.

Over 50 representatives from a number of chevra kadisha organisations were awarded commemorative plaques in recognition of their selfless work at a time of significantly increased Jewish mortality and logistical difficulties.

Board president Marie van der Zyl recalled that “within the first two months of the pandemic, more than 400 members of the Jewish community had died from Covid – more than 100 of those on one particularly terrible week in mid-April. The pressure this put on our burial societies was enormous.

“Individuals – many of them in this room – had already given of their time for many years with no expectation of reward. Now they were having to prepare far more bodies for burial in a far shorter time period – and having to do so when there was no full understanding of the nature of Covid transmission and the risks involved. Their efforts during this period were nothing short of heroic.”

Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer, who is also Minister for Death Management, said “the fact that so many of you put yourselves at risk to prepare the bodies for burial without knowing the impact on your own lives and health is a real testament to the selfless dedication that you have provided.

“The work that you have done to provide comfort in a most distressing time really is appreciated.”

Organisations honoured included the United Synagogue Burial Society, the Adath Yisroel Burial Society, the Federation of Synagogues Burial Society, North West London Chevra Kadisha, the S&P Sephardi Community Burial Society, the Joint Jewish Burial Society, the Liberal Judaism Funeral Scheme, the Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society, the Gateshead Kehillah Chevra Kadisha and burial representatives from the Manchester Kehillah.

According to records kept by the Board during the pandemic with the help of burial organisations, over 1,000 UK Jews died from Covid.